(L) Revs. Palmer, Jacobs and Root at Metro Meeting
New York Conference
E-News
February 2010
Greetings from the Editor

In August 2009 I participated in the first UCC Web University developed by Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry of our national setting. As a religious communicator who was officially transitioning from print to this e-news, I wanted to learn how I could bring information back to the Conference that would be useful to our congregations as we deliver our messages and build community with this "new" medium. Likewise, I wanted to know how the local church could benefit from the information that would be shared at the university.

 
The university was rich with information and insight. Today, I want to share some of that information with you. Coy James, the Canon of Stewardship and Special Projects at the Cathedral of Hope UCC, Dallas, TX, was one of the inspiring and highly knowledgeable presenters at the university. He delivered a workshop on stewardship and fundraising. While we listened in awe to his fruitful stewardship experience, his presentation only whet our appetites.
 
To satisfy our yearning to strengthen our capacities to sow for stewardship, Coy is delivering a webinar on February 18, 2010. I invite you and encourage you and others from your church to participate.  I am confident you will be blessed. Please visit the Stewardship Webinar section in this e-news for more information. 
 

With Blessings,
 Claudette J. Spence, Editor
Claudette J. Spence
Editor
IN THIS ISSUE
Conference Minister's Message
Theological Reflection
Stewardship Webinar - 21st Century
Upcoming Experiences
UCC Web University
Continuing Education: History of Christian Church, Black Preaching & Worship
Metro: Doing Justice to MLK Legacy
Young adults needed for two-week work in South Africa
2010 Annual Meeting: For the World
We invite you to join our mailing list.
Conference Minister's Message
 Shaping a covenant
 Rev. Rita Root, Interim Conference Minister
Rev. Rita Root
Interim Conference Minister
 
My father wasn't a religious man yet near the end of his life, he began to explore the possibilities of eternal life particularly the notion that, if heaven existed, would he go there since as he said one night in the stillness of his hospital room, "I wouldn't want your mother to get there to find I wasn't there to take care of her."  
Read More.
Theological Reflection

  Practical Implications for Identity and Mission

 Rev. Wayne Gustafson, Pastor, The Park Church, Elmira, NY
Rev. Wayne Gustafson
Pastor
 
Greetings:
 
At the most recent meeting of the Church Council, those in attendance shared their perspectives on the ever-present question: "What is the mission of The Park Church?" While many important perspectives were shared, I want to tell you how I came to think about some of the practical implications for the identity and mission of this congregation. Read More.
Stewardship Webinar - Popular Demand
 
Back by popular demand! Last November, Coy James, Canon of Stewardship and Special Projects for the Cathedral of Hope UCC, hosted "21st-Century Stewardship" for the first time. The webinar filled quickly, and many of you asked us to host it again. Those who were able to attend asked if we would offer it once more so lay leaders could join us as well.
 
Now we are, on Thursday, February 18 at 7 p.m. EST!
 
In his current position, Coy has been responsible for raising more than $3 million a year. This relatively young congregation has achieved this level of support without endowments, investments, or rental income. Almost 100 percent of the church's budget is funded by weekly offerings. The secret of their success? The creative use of technology to build relationships with contributors. As a longtime lay leader, Coy understands stewardship from both sides of the offering plate and will offer concrete advice for creating an effective stewardship system to sustain your congregation.
 

Please share this email with any or all members of your stewardship team. The webinar will begin at 7 p.m. EST and run for one hour. For more information and to register, please visit www.progressiverenewal.org and click on "Events." PLEASE NOTE: Each person will have a unique login. After registering, (there is a $9.99 registration contribution) you will receive a confirmation email from us with instructions and a link to the Go To Webinar website in order to obtain your login.
 
Best Regards,
Center for Progressive Renewal/Grow the UCC
 
(Italicized - editor's note)

Upcoming Conference Experiences

 2010

February 27
Western Region winter meeting
Casting Your Nets Meeting, Western Region 
 
 
 
March 5, 6 & 7
 
  (L) Revs. Palmer, Jacobs and Root at Metro Meeting

Connect the Dots

New York State Youth, Watson Homestead, Painted Post, NY 
For more information contact Deborah Dee Brayton or Eric Falla, Co-Coordinators State Youth Committee.
 
March 11 and 18
Boundary Awareness Training
Oneida  Association
 
April 29 - May 1  
New York State Women
Rev. Joan Brown Campbell - guest presenter
Watson Homestead, Painted Post, NY
To register for the conference visit the Conference website: www.uccny.org.
 
June 4, 5, & 6
New York Conference Annual Meeting
Silver Bay, NY 
 
June 11 - June 25
Lay leadership delegation to Germany
For more information contact David Seiple, Chair, New York Conference Ecumenism Commission
dis3@columbia.edu
 

July 29-August 12
Young adult mission to South Africa
For more information contact Rick Cowles, Regional Conference Minister, Upstate Region 
Web University
Most churches know that the Internet has become an indispensible tool for ministry and evangelism, but the pace of technology change has left many Christians with a feeling of frustration, even paralysis.
 
The second "UCC Web University" in Phoenix from February 26-27, 2010 is designed to help. Over two days at the Church of the Beatitudes, an expert team of Christian communicators will help local churches master the mysteries of effective web design, social networking, online fundraising and other opportunities for communication.
 
 "This event is for beginners as well as more advanced learners," says the Rev. Dave Schoen, leader of the Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team at the UCC. "Everyone should be able to come away from this event with useful ideas thay can put into practice in their church," he says.
 
Contact Andy Lang: email vitality@ucc.org, phone 216-736-3789.
To register (and learn more), visit www.ucc.org/vitality/web-university.
Continuing Education
 
Learning through different modalities
 
New York School of Ministry 
 
 NYSOM Announces Spring Course Offerings
 
The New York School of Ministry will offer three courses this spring - two in Syracuse and one in Buffalo. Rev. Steve Johnson will teach "From Resurrection to Reformation: the History of the Christian Church," on Saturdays beginning in March, and Rev. Mark Lawson will offer "New Testament II," beginning in April. Both of these courses will meet at the Amistad Center, our Conference office, in Syracuse. Rev. Jonathan Lawrence, will also offer "New Testament II" at Church of the Nativity UCC, in the Buffalo area, starting in March.
 
"New Testament II" focuses on the epistles(letters) and on the book of Revelation. Interested folks do not have to have taken "New Testament I" to take this course. And, as with all our courses and retreats, everyone is welcome, whether or not you're enrolled in a NYSOM program, whether this is your first course or your tenth. The cost to audit is $100; it's $200 if you're taking it for a grade.
 
"From Resurrection to Reformation" will meet: March 13 and 27 (9:30-2) and April 10 and 17, May 1 and 15 (9:30-12:30). "New Testament II "(Buffalo) will meet from 9:30-1:30 on March 13, 27, April 10, 17, and May 1. "New Testament II "(Syracuse) will meet: April 10 and 17, May 1 and 15 (1:30-4:30) and May 22 and June 12 (9:30-2). Please register by the beginning of March, so we'll know if we can hold the classes. For more information, visit the Conference web site, contact Kristine Caswell, NYSOM Registrar, or call 315-446-3073 ext. 10.
 
 Rev. Dr. Marjorie Purnine, Dean, NYSOM
 
 
 
Classes by Capital Region Theological Center
 
The Church and Its Money
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Rev. Norman Tellier, CFPTM 
All those who deal with money in the church, whether it is organizing the annual stewardship campaign, church accounting, filing IRS paperwork, setting up pastor's annual pay package, or whether you are the pastor who needs to be more informed, this seminar is for you!
 
Family Systems Theory & Practice for Congregations
Friday and Saturday, March 12 & 13, 2010
Rev. Dr. Peter Steinke
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Dr. Steinke, leading speaker and author on the power of family systems theory as applied to congregational dynamics.  See our website for more information on each days' topics.
 Register online or by phone:
 518-462-2470
 
 
 
Black Preaching and Worship Conference
 Rev. Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ 
March 8-10, 2010
at
Franklinton Center at Bricks (FCAB), NC
  
The Rev. Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President, is slated to deliver a critically important message to participants of the Black Preaching and Worship conference. The March 2010 event, open to both clergy and laity, will include exceptional preaching from the Rev. Linda Jaramillo, Executive Minister of JWM, the Rev. Henry Simmons, Pastor of St. Albans UCC in Queens, NY and Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk, President of the Board of FCAB. This event will include panel discussions focusing on the legacies of the various worship styles, the role of Black churches in the UCC, developing an infrastructure needed for Black UCC churches, the future of Black Pastors and Churches in the UCC and more. For more information visit Franklinton Center's website at www.ucc.org/franklinton-center and click on events.

Metro challenged to do justice to King's legacy
 
Participants leading Metro's MLK Celebration
Betty Kauffman of Lemuel Haynes Congregational Church, Jamaica, NY shares her experience as a nurse during the marches in Selma, Alabama. She participated in the second march, provided medical care to John Lewis, and she told of the presence and practices of some of the ant-civil rights movement people. Listening intently, in photo, are (left) Revs. Antoinette Waldron, Emanuel UCC, Woodhaven, NY, Dwight L. Wolter, Congregational Church of Patchogue, Patchogue, NY, Peter G. Heltzel, New York Theological Seminary, Robert B. Coleman, The Riverside Church, NY, NY,  Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, Lemuel Haynes Congregational Church, Robert B. Williams, United Church of Spring Valley, Spring Valley, NY, Eugene R. Palmore, Corona Congregational Church UCC, Corona, NY, and Traci C. West, Drew University. (Photo: Tom Martinez)
 
A relatively mild winter's day provided a large attendance and representation from the Metropolitan Association in commemorating, on January 18, the birth, life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The program, created by the Association's Church and Metropolitan Community Committee and co-sponsored by Judson Memorial Church, New York, NY and Lemuel Haynes Congregational Church, Jamaica, NY was themed "Culture of Fear".  We were treated to a Bible study conducted by Dr. Traci C. West, Professor of Ethics and African-American Studies at Drew University.  The text used for the study was Mark 4:35-41, the familiar story where Jesus calms the sea as well as the anxieties of the disciples in the boat with the words "Peace! Be Still!"  Read More 
 
 By Freeman Palmer
Rev. Freeman Palmer, Interim Regional Conference Minister Southeastern Region
Young adults needed for 2-week work in South Africa
 
South Africa, Germany, USA Mission 2010 
Young Adult Mission Opportunity 
July 30 to August 16, 2010 to
East London, Republic of South Africa
 


Young Adults from the USA, Germany and South Africa will gather to work, grow in fellowship, worship and play, do good, and foster ecumenical friendship. You will be based in East London, Kei Region, Republic of South Africa. Local arrangements are being made by our UCC Common Global Ministries Missionary Partners, Dawn and Jon Barnes.  This trip is being by Sponsored by the Evangelical Church in Hessen and Nassau (EKHN), the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, the Moravian Church of Southern Africa and the New York Conference United Church of Christ. For more information, including estimated cost, contact Rev. Rick Cowles.       
For the World: 2010 Annual Meeting 
 
Rev. Rick Cowles, Regional Conference Minister, Upstate Region"For the World" An unusual theme choice, perhaps, and suggestive, too.  It is "for love the world" that God sent Jesus.  It is for love of the world that Jesus calls and sends us.
 
And so, it is for the world and in recognition of our call to serve and challenge, collaborate with and speak to the greatest and the least of these that God loves.
 
At our New York Conference Annual Meeting, June 4-6, 2010 we'll gather at Silver Bay to remember and celebrate the 200th anniversary of our Common Global Ministries (and it's predecessor organizations) to proclaim the gospel of God's love, justice and peace to the world.
 
We rejoice that members of the Common Global Ministries national staff will be with us for our annual meeting.  Dawn and Jon Barnes, our missionary partners in South Africa; Sandra Gourdet the Area Executive for Africa;  James Vijayakumar, Area Executive for Southern Asia; Jane Sullivan-Davis, Executive Resource Development; and Jan Aerie, Executive Mission Education and Interpretation.
 
We anticipate the musical inspiration of the Oikos Ensemble (http://www.oikos-ensemble.com/oikos_ensemble/Home.html) under the leadership of Cliff Aerie. Oikos will provide music throughout the meeting.
 
We are thankful that God calls us to look beyond what we know and to consider viewing the world and all Creation from a godly perspective.
 
And so, come to the New York Conference Annual Meeting. Come whether you are an official delegate from your local church or you're coming as a visitor. Go to the Conference website (www.uccny.org) to register and to discover more information about the event.  Come to learn more about our Common Global Mission. Come for mission resources for your local congregation.  Come for your own spiritual growth and enjoyment. Come for the world!.
 
 By Rick Cowles
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